Takeshis Castle pushed the 2 to 1 favourite of the Champion of the Cross Grand Final right down the line at Harold’s Cross on 3rd January
The Champion of the Cross Grand Final was held at Harold’s Cross on 3rd
January, and it was raced over a distance of 525 yards and offered the prize money of €1000. The race attracted six hounds in order to claim the prize money.
The trainers included Coyle, Murray, D Smyth, O’Rourke, Melia and Donnelly.
The first hound to speed through the race track was, Takeshis Castle, trained by Coyle. He made it to the other side of the wire in 29.25 seconds. The son of Crash out of Jasons Smokie born in March 2009 broke from the sixth stall and fell in an early pace
that assured him wide space on the track and he led from the second position and did not slow down till he reached the wire.
The second in line behind the winner was, Sillothill Lawns, who is trained by Murray. He came speeding in, covering the entire track in 29.41 seconds.
He did not pace up instantly after breaking from the second gate rather started accepting the challenge later during the race and then led from the third position.
Beginning the race after leaving the first stall was Hades Rocket’s daughter out of Royal Stella, born in April, 2008, Doonanes Dior. She is trained by D Smyth and turned in a visible effort that got her positioned third behind the winner, accomplishing
the distance in 29.81 seconds. Her composed performance throughout the track assured that the three hounds following her did not get a chance to finish before her.
Barging in for the wire by a neck’s margin was O’Rourke trained, Ballymac Anthony, who clocked the track distance in 29.83 seconds.
Following right in the tracks but at the difference of a length was Melia’s trainee, Highview Wilma, who did not really pace up throughout the race, managing the distance in 29.91 seconds and finished fifth.
The 2 to 1 favourite of the race, Borromeo, under Donnelly’s charge set into an early pace after breaking away from the third stall, but could not manage anything better than finishing last and taking 29.95 seconds to do so.
Takeshis Castle, showed when the time is right he can always come good for his connections, and he certainly proved that on 3rd January, 2012, by winning the Champion of the Cross Grand Final.
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